Pilbara sex offender to serve 10 years

A Pilbara man was sentenced to 10½ years in prison in the South Hedland District Court last week on a series of child sex offence charges against three girls aged between five and 14 at the time.

The 55-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced on 20 charges including sexual penetration, procurement of and indecent dealing with a de facto child and sexual penetration of and indecent dealings with a child under 13 in relation to offending in several Pilbara and Perth locations over about eight years.

He had previously pleaded guilty to all charges.

Two of the victims were related to the defendant at the time of offending, one of whom he preyed on for years.

Both of those girls provided victim impact statements to the court saying the incidents had had a “devastating” impact on their childhoods.

The third victim, who was 12 at the time of the offences against her, became pregnant with his child as a result. He will be eligible for parole.

Legal Aid defence lawyer Stephen Stewart said the defendant had struggled against his sexual urges for girls mainly aged 10-12, which he knew were wrong, and had tried to suppress them through “maladapted” behaviours including drinking to intoxication and frequently working away from home.

State prosecutor Shelley Cerqui said the case was particularly serious because the defendant was in a position of trust in relation to the victims, the young age of the victims and the serious consequences of the offences including one girl falling pregnant.